I can definitely understand your view, especially since being wheelchair bound and unvle to drive getting around even in a big city is challenging for me at best. But I also often have a challenge when out with my service dog in some places. Sadly one of the biggest challenges is when I do need to use somewhere like Quick Care - So many fakers have made many doctors very cautious around service dogs, and even though my dog would never bite and doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body, so many times I run into doctors that have been bitten by fake service dogs it makes them leery. Sadly living in a big city and having done alot of rescue - You would be shocked at how many times a "service dog" was surrendered that they admitted to only having a vest for so they could take it into places with them I know most certificates and ID cards aren't worth the paper they're printed on, really to me only certification from an experienced professional trainer is worth anything, but at the same time I am torn because I do choose to carry proof of professional training, a doctor's letter, and an ID card with me when I go out just to avoid confrontation but I know that can cause a problem for someone who doesn't have those things.

I guess my biggest issue with owner-trained service animals that never employ the help of a professional trainer is that unless the handler has experienced with advanced dog training I see so few of them that are properly trained and know how to behave in public, and to few of places do anything about it. Maybe I need to focus my direction more on educating businesses on their rights to refuse service to dogs not properly trained. Heck, even my 5 1/2 month old puppy I am already working with to eventually take place of my older service dog (figuring she will be at least 2-2 1/2 before I would consider her fully trained and both mentally and physically mature to start active duty) knows when I take her with for a training exercise she isn't allowed to bark, greet people, or disturb anyone.

Please forgive me for being ignorant, but I am trying to understand the view of so many that are against a service dog being required to wear a vest/harness and/or carrying ID that verifies it is a legitimate service dog. I have been using a service dog for over 10 years now. My service dogs have been owner-trained, but I have used a professional trainer experienced with service dogs to help me fine tune certain skills. I always carry a doctor's note, their ID badges, and in some situations a certificate of training from the professional trainer I have worked with to verify that these are not my pets, but legitimately trained service animals.

I have seen FAR to many "service dogs" that where obviously NOT trained or socialized properly. I am in a wheelchair, and the last time I flew, I had a Jack Russell wearing a service vest charge my service dog, who ignored her, but it put me and my dog in an unsafe position, and my dog ended up getting bit and requiring medical attention. I have met very few people with legitimate service animals that weren't willing to at least have a trainer verify that their dog was properly trained to work in public and ignore distraction. For public safety, I am really having a hard time understanding why someone would be opposed to doing this. Maybe it's because I made the choice with my dogs to always have a professional trainer help with the fine-tuning stages of their training, but I just don't see how the average dog owner that has no experience with advanced dog training can fully train a service animal with absolutely no help from someone that's more experienced.

I am currently working on a platform speech for a Ms Wheelchair pagent, and am focusing on the benefit of service dogs to their disabled handlers. This is one of the points I intend to touch on in my speech, so I really want to hear what other's viewpoints and opinions are on this subject.

Also, if anyone knows where I can find some statistics about service animals, such as how many are owner trained vs professionally trained, guide dogs vs other service dogs, % of disabled individuals that use service dogs, etc, I would love to use that, but am not finding anything any more current then 1990 which seems a bit outdated for what I am using it for.

For a training harness, I've been looking at the Julius k9 IDC power harness http://www.julius-k9.us/ just to get her use to wearing a harness, and when she's older and ready, light weight baring and pulling. Has anyone used this harness? I do need a rigid handle harness eventually - but right now neither of us are ready for that. My thought is to get a well made but inexpensive harness for now, so I can put money aside to get a nice harness when we're ready to move on to that step.

Thank you everyone for your support and advice. I actually just ordered a Julius IDC power harnesses with a Chest pad and Y strap for more support when pulling. It'll work for now - but I do really need one with a rigid handle to help me balance so I can walk without loosing my balance.

Thank you everyone for the great advice. I'll look at the bridgeport harnesses to begin with, and start putting money aside for a better harness when she's ready to graduate into a fully trained service dog.

I at least want an emergency ID for the reason mentioned - I want it to have a picture of her, and phone numbers of close friends and my vet so should anything happen to me, they can look at the ID card and know who to contact for Tsaile. I think I will order access cards and make sure I use those in place of always showing the ID as I have in the past - I'd much rather educate to make it easier for those that follow, then making it harder if they don't have an ID card. I doubt I'll have much trouble with access with Tsaile since she'll always have her mobility harness on when she graduates to a service dog, making it obvious she's got a job to do. My little ones access was a challenge at times, especially before I had to become reliant on a wheelchair - nobody could SEE that I had seizures or that I couldn't easily bend down if I dropped something without falling.

Just looked at the bold lead designs harness - ultimately I think that is what I want when she is ready to actively start working, but I need a more affordable harness to start with and get her use to. $85 I could afford - but Abby, where did you get the similar one for $50? Affordability is a big thing for me since I can't work so I'm on a very fixed income - and want to be putting money away to get the bold lead designs harness when she's ready to graduate to a fully trained service dog.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I do plan to have Tsaile fully OFA certified prior to actually using her for mobility/pulling purposes. She's 18 months right now - and has a long ways to go, but I do want to start looking for the right harness so I can start getting her use to wearing it at home, and then wearing it in public. I only rescued Tsaile 2 months ago, so we're still perfecting some basic commands. She's very much a baby still, I'm sure it'll probably be at least a year before I'll be comfortable getting her to do much bracing/counter balancing/pulling work. I hope I didn't give the wrong impression - her safety and well being will always be my first priority. She has a lot of drive and desire to please me, my trainer evaluated her before I agreed to rescue her, and said she had more drive and potential then most of the dogs she evaluates, and her bond to me was instant. I love her dearly - I trust my vet and my trainer to guide me as to what health clearances I should do and at what stage she's ready for more advanced training. Right now I'm working on socialization and general obedience. She wasn't given any structure or training before she came to me, and already she's proving how smart and eager to learn she is. But I'm under no false illusion that she's going to be a fully trained and capable service dog anytime soon!

I understand people's point on the ID issue - however I like having an ID, the one my current service dog has clearly states on the back "the owner/handler of this animal is presenting this card voluntarily and is not required to by law". I also carry cards with the ADA law that I can leave with people that ask for ID. I don't have it clearly visible, but I do carry the ID to avoid battles. I have bad social anxiety issues, and can't handle confrontation, so it's more for my benefit then anything.

That said, I'm more worried about where to get a good mobility harness for Tsaile then the ID. Money is tight, but I'm not against spending a bit more for a quality harness instead of buying a cheap one that'll wear out fast.

After 5 years in service, I'm looking into retiring my current service dog (an Italian Greyhound) and putting my Golden Retriever in service in her place. I am working with a local training group to teach her some of the more detailed tasks I now need since my disabilities have worsened to the point I have a lot of difficulty walking, and falls aren't uncommon. I also use a wheelchair a lot of the time. My Golden will be trained to pull my chair, assist with balance, as well as helping me up if I do fall, or alerting someone that I need help. The trainer I'm working with doesn't provide IDs or supplies, so I'm trying to find a place to order these items for Tsaile. The place I ordered Aiyana's from no longer does them, I liked the idea when I bought hers, they gave me one to clip onto her service vest, and another to keep in my wallet, so if some unknowing person wanted to see identification on my dog, it was easy to provide.

Mostly I need a mobility harness so she can help me with balance and/or getting up if I do fall, and also be able to be used as a pulling harness so she can pull me in my wheelchair. I also need to order an ID for her. I know this isn't legally required, but it sure makes access easier in a lot of situations!

Thanks everyone, I've got her under the care of a critical care specialist right now. She's never been where ticks are a huge problem and we decided it wasn't worth the expense of testing for - but she was placed in Doxycycline for a month just to err on the side of caution just in case.